unexplained wobbling to destruction?

[LJSquared]

Can someone explain whats going on here:

Docked final fuel tank to planned interplanetary ship and the whole thing started acting like spaghetti in boiling water. Happened on the last docking as well but was able to save it by time warping, this time it just ripped itself apart.

What am I missing?

Also it looks like I misspelled my username on registration, anyway to fix this or do I need to re-register?

Edited December 8, 2013 by LJSquared

[sal_vager]

KSP still has bugs like this that can rip some craft to bits, if docking ports aren't exactly spaced for example or if those cubit or octagonal struts are used with docking ports.

You may just have to scrap this design, but it's really hard to see exactly what's wrong here, we'd need your save file really.

And I'll try to fix your name, what is it supposed to be?

[LJSquared]

Was some clipping used in the design, that could be it.

Oh, and "LJSquared" missed the q, thanks.

[sal_vager]

Oh definitely, clipping can cause a lot of problems, I had a few clipped tugs that would shake my stations apart if they docked while other clipped tugs wouldn't.

No reason I could see why one was okay and another a deathtrap

Also, name fixed!

[thereaverofdarkness]

I have noticed issues like this. It seems to be caused by either docking, computer overheating, or both. It's not an effect that stems from the actual connection with the docking ports or any symmetrical deviation. It's not from parts not fitting together. Not sure what it is but it'll continnue to happen even after you undock them I believe. That's how it is on my system.

My guess is that it's tied together somehow with some of the other bugs in the KSP physics engine. There seem to be defects in the calculations which cause "energy from nothing", which can build up and tear your craft apart, even though nothing is feeding it.

[700NitroXpress]

If anything on that ship is clipping, then that's your problem. Otherwise, make sure that none of the docked objects hit each other ever, otherwise this can happen. Another cause may be that those small girders that are attached to the orange fuel tanks are jumbling around. If any part gets affected by moving when it shouldn't, then it will cause motion on the entire ship. Personally I would suggest scrapping this design and going with something else.

[LJSquared]

Thanks people.

The clipping is behind the docking ports on the 5 way docking bit, a few batteries and rcs tank. The struts on the orange tank were a mistake, tried launching 3 tanks at once and failed (epic) so switched to launching 1, didn't notice them until most of the way to orbit.

And yes, my docking skills are not great, there may have been a few "love taps".

Anyway back to the drawing board.